System of the kind comprising a number of relay arrangements



Aug. 19, 1969 M. KOEMAN ET L Filed May 8, 1967 SYSTEM OF THE KIND COMPRISING A NUMBER OF RELAY ARRANGEMENTS M Y 1 e 1 1. Hz i "11 2 EI 3 :1 3% K12 K12 2: 2: 2E 2k 3E 1LZM;

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1 "2 s ai- INVENTORJ MEINDERT KOEMAN HENDRIK J.E KEERS AGENT United States Patent 3,462,653 SYSTEM OF THE KIND COMPRISING A NUMBER OF RELAY ARRANGEMENTS Meindert Koeman and Hendrik Jan Frederik Keers, Hilversum, Netherlands, assignors, by mesne assignments, to US. Philips Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 8, 1967, Ser. No. 636,926 Claims priority, application Netherlands, May 6, 1966, 6606166 Int. Cl. H01h 47/22 US. Cl. 317-137 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A control system is provided for energizing and deenergizing the relays in a relay matrix. The matrix consists of a plurality of groups of relays. Each relay group has a common marking conductor. A control circuit is provided having two control conductors for each relay of a relay group, with each pair of control conductors corresponding to a separate relay from each group. Each relay is connected in control circuit that permits it to be held by its own contact through either the corresponding marking conductor or one of the corresponding control conductors, and to be energized by marking the corresponding marking conductor and the other corresponding control conductor.

The invention relates to a system comprising a number of relay arrangements which each have a number of relays each of which is provided with at least one winding and several relay contacts, which system further comprises a marking arrangement having one marking conductor for each relay arrangement, whilst for selecting a given relay arrangement, the corresponding marking conductor is provided with a mark from the marking arrangement, the system further comprising a control arrangement common to all the relay arrangements which for each relay in an arbitrary relay arrangement is provided with two control conductors, each control conductor being common to a number of relays associated with ditferent relay arrangements.

Such a system of relay arrangements is used inter alia in automatic telephone exchanges which are centrally controlled. An example is the control of the repeaters coupling the internal connection lines with the external connection lines, which repeaters each include a number of relays having various functions.

The invention has for its object to provide a new construction of the system mentioned in the preamble by which a considerable saving in apparatus can be obtained.

The system in accordance with the invention is characterized in that each marking conductor is multipleconnected in the associated relay arrangement to first branch points added to each of the relays through decoupling rectifiers added to each of the branch points, in that an energizing winding of each relay is connected between the associated first branch point and a further branch point connected through a decoupling rectifier to a control conductor and in that a holding winding of each relay is connected between the associated second branch point connected through a decoupling rectifier to a control conductor and a third branch point connected through a make contact of the relay to a point of constant potential, the first branch point of each relay being connected with a resistor the other end of which is adapted to receive a switching-on potential.

The invention and its advantages will now be described more fully with reference to an embodiment shown in the sole figure.

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The figure shows two relay arrangements W and W of a number of such arrangements that can be chosen arbitrarily in practice. These relay arrangements are, for example, the repeaters of an automatic telephone exchange. Each relay arrangement comprises several relays which are each provided with one winding and with several make contacts, for example, so-called magnet tongue relays (reed-type relays). The figure shows the windings of three relays of each relay arrangement and one make contact of each relay. In the arrangement W the windings of the relays K K and K and the associated contacts k k and k are shown and in the arrangement W the windings of the relays K K and K and the associated contacts k k and k are shown. These windings are each included in a circuit, referred to hereinafter as control circuit, which is denoted by T. The control circuits are distinguished from each other by two indices the first of which is the same as that of the relay arrangement and the second of which designates the ordinal numeral in the arrangement. The control circuits are identical so that the description of one control circuit is suflicient. By way of example, the control circuit T will be described. The figure further shows a marking arrangement M and a common control arrangement SS. The marking arrangement vM comprises a number of marking conductors equal to the number of relay arrangements and in this case it comprises the marking conductor M associated with the arrangement W and a marking conductor M associated with the arrangement W Normally, the marking conductors are connected to earth through associated mar-king contacts m and m respectively. The common control arrangement SS comprises a number of pairs of control conductors equal to the number of relays in the relay arrangements and in this case it comprises the control conductors U and V associated with the control circuits bearing the ordinal numeral 1, the control conductors U and V associated with the control circuits bearing the ordinal numeral 2, and the control conductors U and V associated with the control circuits bearing the ordinal numeral 3. The control conductors V V and V referred to hereinafter as first control conductors, are normally each connected to earth through an associated control contact v v and v and the control conductors U U and U referred to hereinafter as second control conductors, can be each connected through an associated control contact 11 u and in, to a point of negative potential.

The control circuit T will now be described more fully. The marking conductor M associated with the arrangement W is connected through a marking conductor 1M and a rectifier 4D to a branch point 1 of a resistor 1R and a rectifier 3D The other end of resistor lR is connected to the control conductor U The pass direction of rectifier 4D is chosen so that if the marking conductor M is at earth potential and the control conductor U is at a negative potential, the rectifier conveys a current and the branch point 1 is held at earth potential. The other end of rectifier SD is connected to a branch point 2 of winding K and make contact k The other end of the contact k is connected through a resistor ZR to a point of negative potential. The other end of winding K is connected to a branch point 3 of the rectifiers 1D and 2D The other end of rectifier lD is connected to the control conductor V and the other end of rectifier 2D is connected through marking conductor 2M to marking conductor M The pass directions of rectifiers lD 2D and 3D are equal and are chosen so that if control conductor V or marking conductor M is at earth potential, the rectifier 1D or rectifier 2D conveys a current through winding K and rectifier 3D to branch point 1 if the latter is at earth potential or through winding K make contact k and resistor 2R to a point of negative potential if the contact k is closed. The control circuits T and T are connected in the same manner to the marking conductors 1M and 2M as control circuit T and the connection with the control conductors U and V and U and V respectively, is also established in quite the same manner. In the arrangement W the control circuits T T and T are connected in the same manner to the marking conductors 1M and 2M and the connection with the control conductors is also established in an analogous manner. The rectifiers in the control circuits decouple completely the control circuits connected to the same marking and control conductors.

In order to switch on a relay in a relay arrangement, the relevant marking conductor in the marking arrangement M is disconnected from earth and the relevant second control conductor in the common control arrangement SS is connected to a point of negative potential. The example considered is the relay K in the arrangement W In the marking arrangement M, the marking contact m is opened and in the common control arrangement SS, the control contact u is closed. Thus, the following energizing current circuit is obtained: negative potential, contact 11 conductor U resistor 1R rectifier 3D Winding K rectifier 1D conductor V contact v earth. An energizing current flows through this energizing current circuit so that the contact k is closed. The contact k directly connects the branch point 2 through a resistor 2R to a point of negative potential so that the relay continues to be held after the control contact 11 has been opened. The following holding-current circuit is obtained: earth, contact v conductor V rectifier lD' winding K contact k resistor 2R negative potential. After the marking contact m has been closed, an alternative holding-current circuit is obtained: earth, contact m conductor M conductor 2M rectifier 2D and then through the first-mentioned holding-current circuit to negative potential. If after the energization of relay K first the contact m is closed and then the contact u is opened, the relay K is first held through the alternative holding-current circuit and then through both holdingcurrent circuits. The said energizing-current circuit is obtained due to the fact that the marking conductor M is disconnected from earth. In the opposite case in which the marking conductor M is connected to earth when the control contact u is closed, a current starts flowing through the rectifier 4D which current holds the branch point 1 at earth potential. If the relay K is not energized, both ends of the winding K are at earth potential and the state of the relay remains unchanged. In case the relay K is energized and is held through make contact k rectifier SD is blocked by the earth potential at branch point 1 for the negative potential at branch point 2 and the relay K continues to be held. If during the energization of relay K other relays of the arrangement W; are also energized, the latter continue to be held through the associated first control conductors which are connected to earth in the common control arrangement SS.

When a relay in a relay arrangement is switched off, which is again described with reference to relay K of the arrangement W the marking contact m of the marking arrangement M is opened and the control contact v in the common arrangement SS is also opened. As a result, both the holding-current circuit through control conductor V and the alternative holding-current circuit through marking conductor M are interrupted so that the relay K is de-energized. If beside the relay K other relays of the arrangement W are energized, like in the case in which the relay K is switched on, these relays continue to be held through the associated first control conductors which are connected to earth in the common control arrangement SS. If among the relays the control circuits of which are connected to control conductor V beside relay K also other relays are energized, the latter con tinue to be held through the associated marking conductors which are connected to earth in the marking arrangement M.

In the apparatus described above, it is of importance that each relay arrangement requires only one marking contact which is operative in the associated relay arrangement both when a relay is switched on and when a relay is switched off. Thus, the marking apparatus required for marking the relay arrangements is reduced substantially by half. This saving is due to the double function of the marking contacts. Each marking contact acts as a blocking contact preventing a relay inthe associated relay arrangement from being switched on and as a holding contact for the relays which have been energized so that an energized relay is prevented from being switched off; When the marking contact is opened, both the prohibition for switching on a relay and the prohibition for switching off a relay are eliminated and the common control arrangement SS can bring about a desired change of state (switching-on or switching-01f) in the marked relay arrangement. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, if after a relay has been switched on, the relevant marking contact is closed before the negative potential of the relevant second control conductor is neutralized, the energizing-current circuit is interrupted by the earth potential at branch point 1, while at the same time a holding-current circuit is formed through the same marking contact that brings about the potential variation at branch point 1. The double function of the marking contact now becomes clearly manifest.

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising a number of relay arrangements which each have a number of relays each provided with at least one winding and with several relay contacts, which system further comprises a marking arrangement having for each relay arrangement one marking conductor, whilst for selecting a given relay arrangement, the corresponding marking conductor is provided with a mark from the marking arrangement, the system further comprising a control arrangement which is not common to all the relay arrangements and which for each relay is an arbitrary relay arrangement is provided with two control conductors each of which is common to a number of relays associated with different relay arrangements, characterized in that each marking conductor (M is multiconnected in the associated relay arrangement (W to first and. second branch points (1 and 3 respectively) added to each of the relays (K through decoupling rectifiers (4D and 2D respectively) added to each of the branch points, in that an energizing winding of each relay (K is connected between the associated first branch point (1) and a further branch point (3) connected through a decoupling rectifier (1D;;) to a control conductor (V in that a holding winding of each relay is connected between the associated second branch point (3) connected through a decoupling rectifier (IB to a control conductor (V and a third branch point (2) connected through a make contact (k of the relay to a point of constant potential, and in that the first branch point (1) of each relay is connected to a resistor (IR the other end of which is adapted to receive a switchingon potential.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first branch point (1) of each relay is connected through a decoupling rectifier (SD to the third point (2) and in that one winding of each relay is included in the system, which winding is connected between the associated second branch point (3) and the third branch point (2).

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the marking and control conductors are actuated by break contacts which apply in the closed state a fixed potential to the relevant conductors.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first branch points of the relays are connected through resistors added to each of the branch points to second control conductors and in that the second control conductors are actuated by marking contacts which apply in the closed state a switching-on potential to the relevant conductors.

5. A relay control system comprising a plurality of relays arranged in a plurality of groups of relays, each relay having an energizing winding and a normally open contact, a separate common marking conductor for each relay group, a plurality of pairs of first and second control conductors, whereby each pair of control conductors corresponds to a separate single relay from each group of relays, a relay control circuit for each relay connected to the corresponding marking, and first and second control conductors, said relay control circuit comprising a holding circuit including the energizing winding and contacts of the respective relay, and first and second alternate holding paths including first and second unilateral conducting devices respectively and extending to the corresponding marking and first control conductors respectively, and an energizing circuit extending from the corresponding second conductor to the corresponding first conductor by way of said energizing winding, said control system further comprising a source of potential having first and second terminals, separate first and second switch means for connecting said marking and first control conductors respectively to said first terminal, and separate third switch means for connecting said second control conductors to said second terminal, whereby an energized relay can be deenergized only when the corresponding first and second switch means are open, and a deenergized relay can be energized only when the corresponding first switch means is open and the corresponding second and third switch means are closed.

6. The control system of claim 5 in which said relay control circuit comprises a series circuit of said first unilateral conducting device, the corresponding energizing winding, a third unilateral conducting device poled in the same direction as the first unilateral conducting device, and resistor means, connected in that order between the corresponding marking and second control conductors, means connecting said contact between the junction of said energizing winding and a source of potential difiering from the potential of said first terminal, and means connecting said second unilateral conducting device between said first control conductor and the junction of said energizing winding and said first unilateral conducting device, said first and second unilateral conducting devices being poled to pass current in the same direction with respect to said winding.

7. The control system of claim 6 in which said relay control circuit further comprises a fourth unilateral conducting device connected between said marking conductor and the junction of said resistor means and third unilateral conducting device, with like polarity electrodes of said third and fourth unilateral conducting devices being connected together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,714 9/1956 Heyduck 317-137 3,150,238 9/1964 Carter 317-137 XR 3,173,127 3/1965 Brunner 317-137 XR 3,183,487 5/1965 Deeg 317-137 XR 3,311,795 3/1967 Gilbert 317-137 3,349,187 10/1967 Bray et a1 179-18 3,389,228 6/1968 Haselton 340-166 XR 3,397,388 8/1968 Abramson et a1. 340-166 JOHN F. COUCH, Primary Examiner W. M. SHOOP, ]R., Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 179-18; 340-166 

